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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a Paris court that false claims spread through social media—among them the baseless theory that she is transgender—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a attorney, served as a witness in the court case of 10 individuals accused of digital bullying targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Daily Life

She stated that the first lady now worries constantly about her appearance, including her fashion choices to her posture, due to the concern that each snapshot might be manipulated to support malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she always has to pay attention to her outfits, how she holds herself, irrespective of she's doing in day-to-day existence," Auzière testified.

Defendants and Charges

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for online harassment. A few had limited online influence, while several more were more prominent.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this involved linking the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they face up to two years in incarceration.

Family Impact

Auzière, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, explained how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "decline of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She testified, "Hardly a day passes when a person fails to mention this to her."

Auzière pointed out the effects on loved ones, for example the kids learning about hurtful comments like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "She is your grandfather".

"She does not know how to stop it," Auzière stated. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for any of this, and she is constantly subjected to this abuse."

Court Case Context

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight targeting the false claim that she is supposedly transgender.

The Macrons have also filed a legal action in the United States for defamation involving a media personality who promoted the allegation.

The case asserts that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and points out that the name mentioned is really Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Defendants' Responses

In court, several defendants denied the accusations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, claimed he "never intended to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as satirical.
• Another defendant stated that his posts were presented as "humor" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could threaten "free speech".
• A third defendant testified he disseminated content since he thought it was a global issue with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's gender spread partly because their marriage has often been a point of interest in digital spaces.

The first lady, being 24 years older than her husband, initially encountered him when she was a educator at his secondary school.

Their relationship developed through theatrical projects, and they married in the following year, after her divorce.

She wrapped up her statement by saying that the false claims have produced a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.